Centrifugal machine.



B. DVGOPPAGB.

OENTRIFUGAL MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT.16, 1911 1,030,973. Patented July 2,1912.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

wn rER a I/PPL r B. 1). GOPPAGEL CENTRIF UGAL MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 16, 19-11.

Patented July 2, 1912.

6 SKBET$-BHEET 2.

B. D commen- GENTRIFUGAL MACHINE. APYLIOATION FILED SEPT. 16, 191 1.

Pat ented July 2, 1912,

.6 BHEBTSSHEET 3.

Is I: Isis I ii-ii;

B. D. GOPPAGB.

Patented July 2, 1912.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

B. 1). 'GOPPAGE. GENTRIFUGAL MACHINE.

H APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 16, 1911.

- Patented July 2, 1912.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

PUMP

aid/9% BENJAMIN DENVER oorraenor wrnivrrue'roiv, DELAWARE.

onn'rnrruonr. MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

r tenteua i 2, 1912.

Application filed September 16, 1911 Serial No. 649,604.

' To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN DENVER CorPAcn, of \Vilmington, Delaware,'havc-invented a new, and useful Improvement in Centrifugal Machines, which invention is fully set forth in the following specification.

This invention relates to continuous feed through said cylinder or rotor at the desired speed, by means such as a fixed spiral conveyer in the rotor, and continuously discharged or delivered from the other open end of the rotor.

While the improvements constituting my present invention have been especially designed for centrifugal'machines for removing moisture from coal to dry the same preparatory to coking, and for centrifugal ma chines for actingupon sugar-cane admixed in a sub-divided state with water for rc moving from the mixture the water with the sugar dissolved therein, the invention is obviously applicable to centrifugal machines adapted to remove liquid from many other solid materials.-

Prominent features of improvement cmbraced by the invention consist in supporting the rotor by two anti-friction bearings positioned near the middle of the rotor, and applying driving power to the rotor at the middle thereof in symmetrical relationship to and preferably between said two bearings, thereby obtaining an approximate balancing ofthe rotor, an equal distribution of the strain upon the two bearings and also an eff cient and out-of-the-way positioning of the bearings and the driving means; the

provision of a heavy annular flange or preferably two such flanges, about the middle of the .rotor with the driving means] such for example as a belt-acting upon the rotor between said flanges, the flanges in rotation of the rotor constituting flywheels giving a gyroscopic action tending .toresist, any tendency of the rotor to \vabble or whip even at suchtim'es asthere may be greater weight of material 1n one end of the the rotor than in the other; and the provision of flanges on the rotor which in rotatmg at the high speed of the rotor act as centrifugal blowers to create a strong draft in one. or more chambers of the casing about the rotor to exit or discharge openings of said chambers, such draft acting to forcibly propel toward the discharge openings of the chambers the liquid extracted by centrifugal action and such solid particles of the material being acted upon as may escape through the perforations'of the rotor, thereby preventingsuch liquid and solid particles from finding their way int-ot-lie bearings or other parts of the machine from which they should be excluded. These and other structural features embraced by the invention may be more fully understood and readily explained by reference to the accompanying drawings,

illustrating several embodiments of the invention, and wherein.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section. through a machine adapted for example to the drying of coal preparatory to coking; Fig. 2 is a transverse section \on line 25-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a transverse section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4: is alongitudinal vertical fragmentary section illustrating a somewhat different form of construction from that shown in the previous 'l'igures; Fig. 5 is a transverse section, on line 5 5 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal vertical fragmentary section of still another form of construction; Fig. 7 is a transverse section on line 7-7 of Fig. 6. ,Fig. 8 is a longitudinal vertical section, similar to Fig. 1-, illustrating a form of construction especially designed for removing liquidfrom sugarcane introduced into-the machine in a subdivided. condition in admixturewith warm water; Figs. 9 and 10 are detail sectional views of the tubular conveyor core and spray nozzles shown in Fig. 8;-and Fig.;l1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating "a series or battery arrangement of three centrifugal machines. such as illustrated in Fig. 8 and Fig. -12=is an end viewxofxthe hopper of Fig. 8. r

Referring in 1, 2 and 3, 15 is the main frame or base of the machine resting upon a suitable foundation of concrete or other "material. At opposite ends, this base has trough-like inclined walls 16, 17, leading respectively first to the machine illustrated *shell'30 which are surrounded by the an-' through contacting lips or flanges, Figs. 2 and 3, there are three semi'circular remova-blecaps 20, 21 and 22. The cap 20 is trough-like or V-shape in cross-section, forms a continuation of a similarly shaped portion of the wall of the base 15 and of the trough-like wall 16, these walls of the base together with the cap forming an annular trough-like chamber 13 having the discharge opening 18. Thecap 22 is similarly shaped to thecap20 and with the walls of the base forms an annular trough-like chamber 14 havingthe discharge opening 19. The semicircular cap 21 is also secured to the base 15, Fig. 2, showing for this purpose bolts passing, through contacting lips or flanges. This cap 21 serves with the main frame particularly to inclose'the supporting bearings of the rotor, the heavy flanges or fly-wheels on the rotor, and the driving means for imparting rotation to the rotor.

At the intake or left hand end of the machine, Fig. 1, there is a hopper or chute 23 bolted to they end of the frame 15 and to the cover 20/ This hopper secures in place a ring 2/1 having a flaring annular flange or lip 25 projecting inwardly within ring 62 secured in the end of the rotor and having an'inner wall flaring toward the interior of the rotor. A water supply pipe 26 tapped into an opening in the end wall of the hop per 23 serves to deliver into the bottom of the hopper a jet of water having suflicient impacting pressure to dislodge and wash into the rotorparticles of heavy material, such as coal,- tending to lodge and collect on the bottom of the hopper and under the end of the conveyer core. At the discharge,

terial through the rotor at the desired speed may be employed.

From the hopper 23 the material is delivered into the open end of a rotatable perforated or. foraminated scree.. drum or cylinder, which for convenience is herein desig nated the rotor. As illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3, this rotor is made up of a heavy outer cylindrical shell 30, preferably of brass, and an inner closely fitting lighter cylindrical shell 31 preferably of brass or'steel, according to the materials being acted upon. Those portions of the opposite ends of the 1 nular chambers 13 and 14: are perforated withrelatively large openings. Correspending portions of the walls of theinncr shell 31 are alsoperforated with holes regs istering with the holes in the outer shell. The holes in the outer shell are preferably larger than those in the inner shell. If relatively fine *material is to beoperated upon the machine is equipped with an inner shell having small perforations, .If coarser material is to be acted upon, the machine is equipped with an inner shell having rela-. tively larger perforations. Furthermore, the perforations 32 at the intake end of the inner shell are preferably made largerthan the perforations 33 at the exit end of said shell; at said intake end, the material is-in a relativelyv moist or wet conditionfand greater opportunity should be ofiered for the discharge of the liquid by making the openings 32 relatively larger; furthermore, the wet condition of the material, causing small particles thereof to more or less-adhere, ofi'ers less opportunity for the'escapeof solid particles through the relatively large openings. "At the discharge end of the rotor, there is'little liquid remaining to be discharged, the material is relatively dry, and hence the openings '33 should be made relatively smaller to prevent fine solid particles being thrownoutthrough said 'openings by centrifugal action.

Around the middle of the'rotor, there is a sleeve or-annular band 35 constituting a hub carrying two symmetrically positioned heavy flanges constituting fly-wheels 36, 37 a which in rotating with the rotor at high speed produce a gyroscopic action tending to rigidly 'hold'the' rotation ofthe rotor to" its normal axis and resist any tendency of the rotor to wabble or whip even at such times as there may be -greater weight of material in one end of the rotor than in the other. ..A;driving belt 38.passing up from beneath the machine around the hub 3 5between the'wheels or flanges 36 and 37 serves to drive the rotor, the driving power thus being applied at the middle of. the rotor-in symmetrical relationship to its endsandto the two supporting bearings about to be de- Y of the hub 35. Thee two sets of bearings,

which are similar in construction, each comprise a ring 39 secured on the end of the hub, balls 1O engaging said ring, an outer ring' ll engaging the balls,'-an"annulus 42 bolted'to the base "15 and to the cover '20 (or cover 22) and carrying the ring 41;

and a ring 43 bolted to the annulus 42. The

specific construction of these parts constituting the ball-bearings need not be further described as it forms no part of this invention, and other suitable and efficient, forms see ers 5 attl op sit'edge's of the chamber 13, said flanges i g toward each other and conform; to the inclination of the adjacent' walls of the chamber 13, with a clearer space 5L7 leading toa series of air- 24 inletv ope jug .9 in said ;chamberwall. A T similar si 'oace or clearance between the ange io nd'fthe adjacent chainberi'wa-ll.

t iilar air-inlet openings 51 in said .7; Art the right hand end of e are flanges 52 and 53, similar a 45 and 926, spaces or clearances 54: r 'to spaces 4? and 50., and rugs 56 and. 57 similar ,to airgs &9? and 51. As shown,- these V 'ng ei'tain of perforations in l is irotorendhence when the niachineiis in operation any liquid discharged throughsaid per stations will strike the inner in-- or of the flanges and be deflected or portions of the two chain' and la and s am-1g arch. deeper sof the chanibcr Walls to the out-let or cnarg'c openings 18 and. 19. The flanges rotating at, high speed with the rotor act as biowers to draw air in tarougli tl'c openings and '57, inward throng "i the spaces ,bers hrough the discharge openings r l}, the draft thus created acting to "ii are} new ilowin along the chain- .said,spaces wh re ii might find access Bearings other pa ts of the H lii1 from, wh' h it should. be exclude l, o sever; the discharge opmiings of chambers liquid and any small solid z lesot material expelled through the the rotor. Toinsurc a sup 3 gins i-he chai'nber sufiicient to 1 tl eljsurface e her in ppositely positioned; "lf'l e Water thus aniber does not find "through ftlie'p riorations of a he rotor; the niaterial "ing' acted upon but by discharged, into the surface-0f the chamber wall along. which may have lodged thereon.

,of the previous figures. In this case, the

its middle to constitute a' broad l wheel 71 having secured thereon two ,tiresl72, 73, spaced apart with the driving belt 74 ena'ging the wheel 71 between said tires. In 'tiis case, the-rotor is supported by three pairs ofid-ler wheels 75-, 76 and 77, the two wheels of each pair being, as illustrated, preferably cast single double wheel. These three double axles 78', 79 and 80 with the interposition-of Taxle. The axles 78 and 79 are supported in brackets on the main frame or base 81, while the axle 80 is supported in uprightbrackets 83,- 84 of the covers 85, ,86, respectively. These three pairs of Wheels constitute two sets of bearings, one set engaging tire 72 and the other set-tire 73;'furthermore, the two'wheels ofthe pair77 have flanges enoppose longitudinal shifting of the rotor.

shown a single flight ribbon conveyer consisting of a spiral band or'ribbon 8T, supported by radiating arms 88 on the conveyor core 89. a 1

In Fiq's. (land 7, there is shown still another form of construction, which, except in the 'pl'n'ticulars described, is substantially similar to that illustrated in Figs. 1. to 3. in this case, the perforated rotor is made in two parts 90 and 91, surrounded at their inner contiguous or abutting ends by strengthening; sleevesQQ, 93, respectively, the inner ends of said sleeves contacting opposite sides of an inwardly projecting rib 94- on a huh 95, the latter fitting about and being rigidly secured to the two sleeves 92, 93. An outwardly projecting rib or flange 96 on the inner end of sleeve 92 engages a groove of recess about the inner surface of the hub ne'r end of the sleeve 93 engagesa, s1

'aboutthe inner surfacesof th erlock'mgrof ribs-and grooves assists :0 in sec At opposite-ends (of thahubs 95,} there far two wheels 98, 99: considerable weight to serve as fly-'wbeels to give/" a gyroscopicraction, the; advantag of which h heretofore' been mentioned; ne

reason of the whirling draft in the chamber cupped to form an inner bearing surface outer shell 70 ofthe rotor is thickened about together in the form of a idler wheels are supported, respectively, on

Instead of a single flight conveyor, such as illustrated in the previous figures, there is respectively, which are; of

is thrown forcibly outward against the inner y it runs to the-discharge opening, flushing fronithe" surf-ace anysolid particles-which I I 1-7; rigs; 92' and 5' illustratea construction-- which, except in theparticularsabout tube 4 described, is substantially"the same as that r bailrbearings between each wheel and its 4 gaging over the inner edge of each tire to 95; and a similar rib orfiange-QT on'thei inri'irggthe 7' parts: rigidly together.

outer faceofgeach wheel;98,-99 is dished-or l 100. The rotor is rotatably supported by three pairs of idler wheels positioned equidistant around the rotor. The lower pair, for example, comprises a mushroom-shaped Wheel 101 located in the recessed face of the wheel 98 and bearing against the surface 100 of said wheel 98. A similar mushroomshaped bearing wheel 102 is located in the recessed face of wheel 99 and engages the bearing surface 100 of the latter. [Each of these wheels 101, 102 has an.axle or spindle, 103 rotating in a bearing bushing 104, the latter .being supported in a part of theframe of the machine. The other two pairs of bearing wheels are similar to the air just described and engage the wheels 98, 99

-water, for removing from the mixture the water with the sugar of the cane dissolved therein. Except in the particulars mentioned, the construction of this machine isthe same as that illustrated in Figs. 1-3. In this case, the conveyor core 106 is made hollow or tubular throughout the greater part of its length, as indicated in dotted lines, and at its left-hand end where it ex- 1 tends through an 'openiilg in the wall of the hopper or chute 107, it communicates with a water supply pipe 108, which pipe has a branch 109 leading to the spray-nozzles 110, 111, which. latter are similar to the nozzles 61, 61 of Fig. 1. 112, 112 are: a series of,

spray-nozzles tapped into the tubular conveyer core 106 in different radial positions of the latter and serving to spumkle a relatively wide swath of water upon layer orcoat-ing of material being acted upon, which is distributed over the interior surface .of the rotor by the action of centrifugal force. The sprayers are so relatively positioned as to sprinkle the entire layer or coating of the material, the edge of the spray distributed by one sprayer overlapping or meeting the edge of the spray distributed by the next adjoining sprayer.

Inacting upon sugar cane, for example, the

ovater distributed by these'sprayers' is preferably in a heated condition to more readily construction of the spray-nozzle 112' is shown dissolve the sugar in the cane. Also the sugar cane in a subdivided state is admixed with hot water before being introduced into the machine through the hopper 107. The

' in detail in Figs. 9 and 10. Each nozzle comprises a short tubular part 113 screwthreaded through the wall of the tubular core 106, a convex spreading surface 114 -veyed.

against which the water is delivered from the tubular part 113 and a second convex surface115 bent at an angle to and forming The form' ofhopper 107, illustrated in Figs. 8 and 12, is especially designed for handling materials such" ubdivided sugar cane, which by reason of its fibrous, stringy character tends: to clog in bends, angles, or recesses ofpassages throng which itis con- To overcome this endency atthe. angle .or bend of the hopper 107, where the opening through the latte); changes from a vertical to a horizontal direction, and also the tendency of such material to lodge in the hopper in the space directly beneath the core 106, means have been provided for projecting into the outer end of the hopper airjets adapted to act by impact upon the material and forcibly propel it toward the de livery-end of the hopper and into the rotor. To this end, I provide in the outer end wall of the hopperan an nular chamber 116 from which aseries of nozzles 117 project into the hopper 107 to deliver therein jets of compressed air along the upper cylindrical surface of the core .106 and along the curved bottom surface of the hopper. ,An air-supply pipe 118 tapped into the annular cham her. 116 supplies the desired quantity of compressed air. The hopper 107 has two hinged sections 119, 120 held together in their closed position by bolt 121 and adapt' ed to be swung open 'to give ready and con 1 venient access to the interior of thehopper.

In Fig. 11, there is illustrated diag'raim' matically a series or battery arrangemeiit of three centrifugal-separators such as illustrated in Fig. 8. The material to beacted upon, such as sugar cane in a subdivided condition, is introduced through the hopper of the first machine 130, passing from that machine into',the second machine 131 and from the latter into the third machine 132'.

The liquid used in spraying the materials in the machine is delivered to the latter in reverse order, that is to say, the fresh liquid, such as hot water, is supplied through the pipe 133 and sprayed upon the material in the third-machine132=where it is extracted from the material by centrifugal action of a the rotor; it is then e pumped through the pipes 134, 135 into t e second machine 131,

where it is sprayed upon the material in that machine; from the second machine the liquid is pumped through pipes 136, 137 to thefirst machine 130, where it is sprayed upon the material in that machine. From the first machine, the liquid passes through a pipe 138 to an apparatus, such as an evaporator for removing the "sugar in a solid condition. The advantage of carrying the liquid are" h the machines in this apparent.

W hat I claim is:

'1. In a centrifugal machine for separating liquids from solids, the combination of an inclosing casing; a perforated drum or rotor Within said casing rotatable on an approximately horizontal axis; means Within said rotor for conveying solid material through the same; two sets of supporting bearings spaced apartand positioned about said rotor at approximately the middle thereof; and driving connections acting upon said rotor at its middle between said sets of bearings.

2. In a centrifu 'al machine for separating liquids from solios, the combination of a perforated drum or rotor rotatable on an approximately horizontal axis; supporting order will be bearings for said rotor; a flywheel about and fixed to said rotor; and driving conned tions for rotating the rotor in its bearings.

3. in a centrifugal machine for separating liquids from sol-ids, the combination of a perforated drum or rotor rotatable on an approximately horizontal axis; supporting bearings about said rotor at approximately the middle thereof and by which the rotor is entirely "supported when rotating; a flywheel about and fixed to the rotor; and driving connections for rotating the rotor in its bearings.

4t. In a centrifugal machine for separating liquids from solids, the combination of a perforated drum or rotor rotatable on an approximately horizontal axis; two sets of supporting bearings spaced apart and positioned about said rotor at approximately the middle thereof; allyheel about andfiized to the rotor at approximatelyits middle; and driving means acting uponsaid rotor at approximately the middle thereof:

5. In a centrifugal. machine for separating liquids from solids, the combination of a perforated drum or rotor rotatable on an approximately horizontal axis; two sets of supporting bearings spaced apart and positioned about said rotor at approximately the middle thereof; two fiy-wheels also spaced apart and positioned about said rotor at approximately the middle thereof and driving means acting" upon saidrotor at its middle between said. bearings and between said flywheels.

6, in a centrifugal machine for separating liquids from solids, the combination of a perforated drum or rotor rotatable on an approximately horizontal axis; a casing forming a chamber about said rotor, said chamber having an exit or discharge opening;and one or more flanges about and lined to the rotor and projecting into said chamber and adapted, in rotating with the rotor, to create a suction or draft in said chamber to the discharge opening thereof.

7 In a centrifugal machine for separating liquids from solids, the combination of a perforated drum or rotor rotatable on an approximately horizontal axis; a casing forming a troughdilre chamber around the rotor, said casing having an exit or discharge opening; and two flanges about and fixed to said rotor and projecting into said chamber at opposite edges thereof, said flanges being flared toward each other and adapted, in rotating with the rotor, to create a'suction or draft in said chamber to the discharge OPQIIHKQ' thereof.

8. In a centrifugal machine of the character described, the combination of a perforated drum, or rotor rotatable on an approximately horizontal axis; a stationary tubular coreextending longitudinally within the rotor; a liquid supply means communicating with'said core; and sprayer nozzles spaced along said core Within the rotor.

9. In a centrifugal machine of'the character described, the combination of a per.-

forated drum or rotor rotatable on an approximately horizontal axisg-a hopper for delivering to said rotor material to be acted upon, said hopper having one or more fluid discharge openings in its end Wall for discharging; into the hopper fluid adapted by impact to impart a propelling force to the material in the hopper; and a fluid supply communicating with said opening or openings. t

10. In a centrifugal machine of the character described, the combination of a perforated drum QFIOlJOX rotatable on an approximately horizontal axis; a core extend ing longitudinally within said rotor; a hop per for-delivering to said rotor material to be acted upon, said core extending through said hopper and being supported atone end by the end Wall of the hopper, and said 

